Physiotherapy

Licensing

Becoming a registered physiotherapist in Canada

In Canada, physiotherapy is a regulated profession. To work as a physiotherapist, you must register with the regulatory body in the province or territory where you work. The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) evaluates educational credentials and administers exams for competency on behalf of most of the provincial and territorial regulators. Each provincial and territorial regulator may also have additional requirements before you can practise. CAPR provides information to the regulators on credentials and qualifications, and the regulators decide who can and who cannot receive a licence to practise.

There are a number of steps to becoming a registered physiotherapist in Canada:

1. You need to decide where you want to work. Then, check the requirements you need to meet to work there by contacting the regulator.Yukon – http://www.community.gov.yk.ca/physiotherapists/index.htmlBritish Columbia – http://cptbc.org/Alberta – https://www.physiotherapyalberta.ca/Saskatchewan – http://www.scpt.org/Manitoba – http://www.manitobaphysio.com/Ontario – http://www.collegept.org/HomeQuebec – https://oppq.qc.ca/en/New Brunswick – http://www.cptnb.ca/

   Nova Scotia – http://nsphysio.com/

   Prince Edward Island – http://www.peicpt.com/

   Newfoundland and Labrador – http://nlcpt.com/

2. For most regulators, you must complete CAPR’s Educational Credentials and Qualifications Assessment. You can begin this before you come to Canada.
   1. This assessment ensures that your education and qualifications are similar to the education and qualifications of a Canadian-educated physiotherapist.
   2. You will need to prove your language skills or take a language test
   3. You must pay fees for the assessment.

For the province of Quebec, you must apply to have your credentials assessed by l’Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec .

1. For most regulators, you must pass the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE)  administered by CAPR.
   1. The PCE has two parts: a written component and a clinical component. You must pass the written component before you can take the clinical component.
   2. You must pay fees to take the examinations.

For the province of Quebec, you may have to take courses or meet other requirements.

1. Depending on the results of your credentialing process, you may be required to complete a bridging program  at a recognized Canadian school
2. You must apply to the regulator  for a licence or registration. Requirements differ for each province and territory.
   1. In some provinces or territories, you can apply for a temporary licence or registration after you register for the PCE or after you successfully complete the written component of the PCE.

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